Greed in perspective: only the dust of the grave will truly satisfy

Wanton greed prevents one from receiving the bounties of Allah because, rather than thanking Him, one remains perpetually dissatisfied and ungrateful.

By nature, human beings are inclined towards greed. Often, we find ourselves yearning for wealth or possessions, and no matter how much we accumulate, it never seems to satisfy the insatiable hunger for more. About this, the blessed Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم is narrated to have said:

لَوْ أَنَّ لاِبْنِ آدَمَ وَادِيًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ وَادِيَانِ وَلَنْ يَمْلأَ فَاهُ إِلاَّ التُّرَابُ وَيَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَى مَنْ تَابَ

“If the son of Adam had a valley full of gold, he would wish to have two valleys. Nothing fills his mouth except the dust of the grave, yet Allah relents to whoever repents to Him.” — Bukhārī #6439

It is important to recognise the dangers of greed and take deliberate steps to cleanse our hearts of this malady. Greed is a disease of the soul, one that blinds us to the blessings we already possess. There are different forms of greed, of which baṭar—wantonness—is one. When consumed by it, we become incapable of appreciating the favours of Allah عزوجل. Instead of gratitude, we fall into the habit of complaint and ingratitude, both of which are attitudes that distance us from His عزوجل Divine Mercy.

Greed is a beast—a ravenous creature that demands constant feeding. Tragically, we, as human beings, are often too willing to indulge it, much as we would satiate our physical hunger. Yet, what we fail to realise is that this beast is of our own making. It is a construct of our desires, nurtured and strengthened by our unbridled wants. Over time, this self-created monster grows so powerful that it enslaves us to its whims, dictating our actions and diverting us from the path of righteousness.

When greed takes root in our hearts, it consumes our priorities and blinds us to our duties towards Allah عزوجل. Instead of spending in His عزوجل cause and seeking His عزوجل pleasure, we become fixated on hoarding wealth and possessions. Our greed drives us to sever the ties of kinship, overlook the needs of our family, and behave in ways that are contrary to the teachings of our faith. We become harsh, miserly, and neglectful of the very values that Allah عزوجل commands us to uphold.

The blessed Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم warned us of the destructive power of greed and its far-reaching consequences, when he said:

إِيَّاكُمْ وَالشُّحَّ فَإِنَّمَا هَلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ بِالشُّحِّ أَمَرَهُمْ بِالْبُخْلِ فَبَخِلُوا وَأَمَرَهُمْ بِالْقَطِيعَةِ فَقَطَعُوا وَأَمَرَهُمْ بِالْفُجُورِ فَفَجَرُوا

“Beware of greed, for it was only greed that destroyed those before you. It commanded them to be miserly, and they obeyed. It commanded them to sever their family ties, and they complied. It commanded them to behave wickedly, and they indulged.” —Abū Dāwūd #1698

This profound warning highlights how greed not only corrodes individual hearts but also dismantles the fabric of society. It sows seeds of discord and selfishness, leading to miserliness, broken relationships, and immoral behaviour. In essence, greed is the root cause of many evils that have plagued generations before us and continue to do so today.

To free ourselves from the grip of greed, we must first recognise its presence within us. Acknowledging our weaknesses is the first step towards reform. We must then take deliberate actions to counter it—choosing generosity over miserliness, fostering family ties instead of breaking them, and striving to act with righteousness and selflessness. This is not an easy task, but it is a necessary one if we are to remain true to our faith and draw closer to Allah عزوجل.

Let us take heed of the blessed Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم words and remind ourselves that true success lies not in the accumulation of worldly possessions, but in the purity of our hearts and the strength of our relationship with our Creator عزوجل. May Allah عزوجل guide us to recognise and resist the lure of greed, replacing it with gratitude, contentment, and the desire to seek His عزوجل pleasure above all else.

Starting today, let us resolve to make a sincere effort to be grateful for the countless blessings Allah عزوجل has bestowed upon us. When we find ourselves feeling deprived or discontented, let us pause, seek His عزوجل forgiveness, and remind ourselves of those who yearn for even a fraction of what we take for granted. Gratitude is the antidote to greed, and through it, our hearts can find peace and contentment.

Rather than chasing after the fleeting and finite pleasures of this world, let us redirect our aspirations towards the everlasting rewards of the Hereafter. Let us hasten to seek the pleasure of Allah عزوجل by being diligent in our worship and by serving His عزوجل creation with kindness and compassion. In doing so, we transform our ambition from a source of harm into a means of attaining His عزوجل boundless mercy and ultimate reward.

May Allah عزوجل guide us, forgive us, and purify our hearts from greed, and replace it with gratitude and a sincere longing for His عزوجل closeness.

And Allah عزوجل and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم know best.